note:
Sentences in Italic are the past.

⛅

"How irritating." A voice said as she felt something suddenly appeared on the ground and she had no time avoiding it; causing her to lose her balance and fell like a timber on the ground. She felt the harsh sticks of fallen twigs and dried leaves under her skin, scraping her knees and palms as tears pricked in her eyes.

"This school is used to be an elite only, exclusive, until they decided to let this peasant in. Now we're a joke of a school, our name is tainted by her." The harsh words was nothing new to her, but as her eyes scanned her art supplies that were scattered on the dirty ground, her heart broke.

It was new - she had just gotten it yesterday as an early birthday gift from her parents.

"The restaurant isn't doing so good, Woojin-ah," she remembered her mother said to her father as they were talking quietly in the kitchen. The walls in their small house were thin, so her parents always chose late night to talk about their business or having an adult talk that they did not want their child to hear.

But that night, Hyojung was so thirsty and she decided that she would haul her lazy ass from her bed and go to the kitchen for a glass of water where her parents were having an important talk.

"If we don't do something quickly, we'll lose the restaurant, and this house." The desperate voice of her mother attacked her ears and she stopped her steps.

"I know Sooyoung. Don't worry, we'll figure something out."Her father answered, no doubt trying to calm his wife down. Hyojung was about to sneak back to her room before she heard her name being the topic of discussion. "Hyojung told me she took the art class this evening."

She heard the sound of the chair being pulled and the soft sigh of her mother. "Art supplies are expensive."

"I know...But we'll figure that as well."

Hyojung bit her lips, trying to hold her disappointment. She knew her family was struggling and as a good child she should not demand expensive things. Her parents were doing everything they can to support her - even going as far as enrolling her in the school of the most affluent neighbourhood. She did not want to, it was already hard for them to survive but there was no denying that it was one of the best school in the country. And her parents knew that too.

But next evening as she was going to tell her parents that she will drop the subject, she saw a complete set of art supplies on her writing table, so she freaked out. Part of her was so happy; but she was also so sad because her parents were sacrificing so much for her - again. She ran downstairs to see her mother preparing dinner - another leftovers from the restaurant that day.

"Mama, what's on my table?" She blurted out. Her mother turned to her and smiled.

"Do you like it? Your father and I close the restaurant early today and went to a little shopping."

"But Mama, I-"

"Ahh- did our Hyojung see what we've put on her table?" A voice said from behind and she quickly turned on her heels, hugging the man she called her father.

"Papa, you didn't have to..." She whispered, hugging him close as she felt him patting her hair gently.

"My daughter is the most talented artist I know, of course I will do everything I can to support her. Do you like it?" He asked softly.

"I do." A soft sniffle. She pulled away from her father and turned to her back where her mother was smiling warmly at the sight of her husband and daughter. "Thank you Mama, thank you Papa."

The recollection of one of her happiest memories were now scattered on the ground in front of her. Her heart was broken. It was her parents' hard work, and she let it fall.

She pushed on her shaky limbs, ignoring the whispers and chuckles that came from her own classmates. Their shiny shoes surrounded her as they were giggling at the sight of what she had become; another dirt under their shoes.

She trembling hands reaching out for the tubes of colours, collecting it and brushing away the soil that came in contact with it when it fell.

"Here let me help you." The same girly voice said, kicking her brush away from her reaching hand. Hyojung looked up to the face of her tormentor just to see that she was already smirking at her vain.

"Why? Don't like the way we're welcoming you? Then move schools, go to where the other peasants are attending." She said, her words puncturing her already bleeding wounds. Was it a sin to be poor?

But before she could open her mouth, a deep voice  cut her to it.

"Then don't that mean you should move too?"

The group gasped and the sea of polished shoes parted to give way to a guy. In Hyojung's mind, everything was ceased to exist as she only saw him in her vision, her eyes widening with every steps he took.

He stopped in front of the girl who was insulting her, his eyes glancing over to the name tag on her chest.

"Lee Mira... I remember my dad talking about your dad." He smirked, "how your dad was grovelling, begging my dad to support your business. Of course being the kind guy he is, my dad agreed, and we all know if Kim Jun Group starts to put their interest in something, other investor will flock around his subject of interest. And that subject was LK holdings, your father's company."

He lowered himself so that his eyes were level with Lee Mira's. "You...are nothing. Your dad is nothing."  he said in a low threatening voice. "One word from me, and your family will be back to square one, begging for attention from other monster corporations. So I suggest you to keep your mouth shut for the rest of high school."

He then left, but not before giving Hyojung a fleeting look, and disappeared inside the massive hallway of their school.

***

Choi Hyojung opened her eyes when her ears caught the familiar opening tune of Closer. She smiled, checking her phone and turning the volume up; her earphones following the order instantly.

She checked the route and the time, and noticed that she was only a few minutes away from her stop. Her smiled widened when she realised she was one step closer to her dream.

Her eyes dropped to the drawing on her clear case; his black hair was ruffled by the wind as he stared deeply back.

She brushed her fingers on it as the small voice in her mind whispered: I'm here.